deconstruction / reconstruction

I started this collage a few weeks ago when I was just trying to force myself to get back into making things. It had it's interesting bits, but I hit a wall and couldn't figure out where to go with it. I added a bit more than what you see here, and I had an inkling that what it really needed was to get "messed up" somehow, but I wasn't ready to do that, and set it aside for a while. 

This weekend I was reading the book The Creative Block, interviews with artists, by The Jealous Curator/Danielle Krysa, and lo and behold, I run across this quote by artist Jessica Bell:

"Consider deliberately destroying that which you feel like you can't lose and see what happens to your piece and the vision for it in the process. In a collage on paper or in a textile piece, for example, take your scissors and cut directly through the center of the element that you are afraid to lose; disassemble it in service to the possibility of reassembly."

Synchronicity! So, I cut it up:

I liked these, but then I figured, hey, why not cut it up again?

These are only some of the pieces, and I'm still working on the arrangement. I actually think I should have kept it in the original four pieces, but you know what? It's all part of the learning process. But I do think this was a succesful experiment overall and led me to think about my collages in a new way. 

By the way... I really recommend the book The Creative Block. It introduced me to a lot of great new artists, as well as learning more about some I already look up to. 

Comments

[abby]

I love the little bitty cards, I think they would be so cool as business cards or invitations (tiny special ones) to some event! Keep sharing your creativity, it is an inspiration to many!

[Katielicht]

you win the best commenter award! thanks for always having something sweet to say.

[Robyn]

Yay! So happy to see your posts again. I love the pieces and I love the advice! I really need to remember this myself. Just destroy it! Often the pieces I love the most are the pieces that just come on a whim and have no weight or importance while I create. I will really like it and want to make more, but suddenly I have this pressure to make it good. I think the idea of destroying it would help remove that pressure of it being important.
I bought this book (probably around the time you came over) but I am embarrassed to say that I haven't even cracked it open yet. I have honestly been carrying it around with me in my bag, or it is sitting on the top of the coffee table, or on my bedside table everyday. I really want to read it but I also want to sit down undistracted and start reading it, but I'm ALWAYS distracted or working on something else or know I am not focused enough to devote my full attention to it. Does that tell you something about some of my own creative blocks or what?

[Julia Prohaska]

Woah, this is a difficult thing to do, huh! I love the results. I truly believe letting go of that end result can so many times bring more creativity & opportunity for bigger flow of ideas. I have a piece I haven't gone back to that I'm just not happy with. I really didn't think I had any 'end' in mind for it but it's unsettling when I see it just setting there! Maybe I need to out the scissors! Thanks for sharing your process & the book. It sounds like a great read.

[Katielicht]

Julia, I have to say, it was really liberating to cut something up... I've done it a few times since then too! The results aren't always as great as this one turned out to be, but at least it's forward progress on something.

[alexa]

Actually, I really like the eight! Seeing what you have done has been an eye opener about pattern and shape and thank-you for the idea, and the link to the book (I’ve popped over from Julie's Notes on Paper).